Automatic pilot



July 13, 1954 c. M. WEEKS AUTOMATIC PILOT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1951 CHARLES M. WEE K Filed May 24, 1951 C. M. WEEKS AUTOMATIC PILOT 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I60 use? I I00 I10 9 /I76 INVENTOR. CHARLES H. WEEKS 2 HTTOPNEY Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an automatic pilot and has for its primary object to hold a moving object on a predetermined course relative to the earths magnetic field.

Another object of the present invention is to maintain a magnetic compass in a substantially static relation to the earths magnetic field irre spective of the pitching or rolling of the object upon which it is mounted.

A still further object of the present invention is to establish direct control of the steering mechanism of a moving object'by a magnetic compass and to avoid the necessityfor periodic correction such as is required by automatic pilot mechanism heretofore employed.

The above and other objects of the present invention may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a pair of spaced light sensitive cells illuminating means for projecting light beams toward the cells, a magnetically controlled screen mounted to move in an arcuate path between the cells and thisrespective illuminating means, and means connected to the cells for moving the steering mechanism of a moving object when a cell becomes energized by the impingement of light thereon.

Other features of the present invention include mounting the cells and their respective illuminating means for movement relative to the moving object so that they maybe adjusted relative to the screen for predetermining the course to be held by the moving object.

Still other features of the present inventioninelude means connected to the steering mechanism of a moving object and the cells and illuminating means for moving said cells and their respective illuminating means in an arcuate path about the axis of a magnetically controlled screen in order to interpose the screen between the cells and their respective illuminating means as themoying object responds to the movement of the steering mechanism. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view' of an automatic pilot embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional 'view through the upper end of the binnacle. Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 of the lower end of the binnacle. I

Figure 4 is an explodedview of the binnacle. Figure 5 is an exploded view of one ofthe electrically actuated valves, and 1" p Figure 6 is a view illustrating diagrammatically the connections between the light sensitive Calls and the electrically actuated valves.

Referring to the drawings in detail a binnacle designated generally [0 comprises a stem or standard l2 of non-conducting material such as hard rubber is provided at its upper end with an enlarged hollow cylindrical head I4 forming a case in which are housed the magnetic elements which are responsive to the earths magnetic field. A cover [6 closes the upper open end of the case l4 and mounted in the bottom of the case I4 in axial alignment with the stem I2 is a bearing I8 in which is mounted the lower bearing of a rotor 20 in which are mounted permanent magnets 22 which tend to stabilize the rotor 20 with relation to the earths magnetic field. A spindle 24 projects axially upwardly from the rotor 20 and is received at its upper end in an inverted cup 26 mounted in the cover IS in axial alignment with the bearing l8. Formed in the bottom wall of the head 14 in substantially diametrically spaced relation are windows 28 the axes ofwhich lie parallel to the axis of the rotor 20 and similar windows 36 are formed in the cover I6. The windows 30 of the cover l6 align with the windows 28 of the head l4 and in the preferred form of the invention these Windows 28 and 30 are closed by bodies 32 and 34 respectively of transparent material having convex ends to provide light condensing lenses. Carried by the rotor 20 for rotation therewith in an arcuate path which lies betweenadjacent ends of the windows 28 and 30 is a disk 36 of transparent material having an opaque area forming a screen 38 which when interposed between the windows 28 and 30 will interrupt the passage of light therethrough.

Mounted in suitable clips 40 and 42 on the under side of the head l4 adjacent the windows 28 are lamp sockets 44 and 4S invwhioh lamps 48 and 50 are mounted so as to direct. rays through the windows 28. The rays falling upon the transparent bodies 32 are condensed thereby into beams which are directed toward the transparent bodies 34 by which they are further condensed into light bundles when the screen 38 fails to obstruct the passage of light between the windows 28 and 30. Mounted in the cover It adjacent the windows 30 therein are brackets 52 and 54 in which are supported light sensitive photoelectric cells 56 and 58 respectively which are so disposed with relation to the windows 30 that 'light passing therethrough will impinge on said cells and cause the latter to become excited.

Extending into the stem or standard l2 axially through the end thereof remote from the head I4 is a shaft 60 the lower end of which extends beyond the lower end of the stem or standard l2 and into the upper end of a socket s2 carried by a friction disk 64. A set screw (it extends radially through the socket 62 near the upper end thereof and impinges on the shaft Ell in order to secure the shaft 60 to the socket 62 for rotation therewith. The top surface of the friction dist: 6t is provided adjacent its periphery with an annular row of indices 68 representing the various points of the compass and the degrees therebetween.

A steering apparatus control device designated generally I is disposed below the binnacle Iii and comprises a cylinder i2 closed at opposite e1 by plates Id and it each having an opern therein through which works an elongated piston rod I8. A piston 86 is contained within the cylinder I2 and is connected to the piston red 'It for movement therewith. Ports I32 and t s open through opposite plates Id and Hi into the cylinder "I2 and are connected by suitable ducts t3 and 83 to electrically actuated valves 98 and respectively.

Supported on suitable arms 84 carried by the end plates It and 76 is a cross member 96 and mounted in said cross member for rotation about a vertical axis is a sleeve 93 carrying at its upper end a laterally extending dished annular flange lot. A pinion I92 is fixed to the sleeve :38 adjacent the lower end thereof for rotation therewith and extending axially through said sleeve 98 and fixed thereto for rotation therewith is a stub 3 shaft IO l the upper end of which projects above the flange I60 and is recessed in the lower end of the socket 62 in axial alignment with the shaft 60. An annular groove I06 is formed in the stub shaft I04 adjacent the upper end thereof and a screw I08 extends radially through the socket 52 into the groove I06 to efiect a coupling between the shafts 68 and I04 that will permit a relative rotation therebetween. A friction disk H0 is disposed on the dished flange N30 for cooperation with the friction disk 64 to effect driving connection between the shafts B0 and Hi l.

Carried on suitable brackets H2 and H4 carried by the piston rod E8 adjacent opposite ends thereof is a rack bar IIS carrying along one side a row of teeth I I8 which mesh with the teeth of the pinion I02 so that when the rack bar IIB moves, the shaft 20d, 59 and the stem or standard I2 will move in unison therewith.

Each valve 90 and 92 comprises a housing I28 having an axial bore I22 and a pair of diametrically spaced bores I24 which lie parallel to the axial bore I22. Attaching screws I 26 extending into the bores I24 secure the housing I to an end plate I28 of a solenoid I30 in axial alignment 5 with the plunger 132 thereof and closing the end of the bore 522 is a valve body I30 having a valve chamber I36 formed therein. A valve stem I 38 extends axially through the valve body I34 and carries adjacent one end thereof a valve head Mil which works within the chamber I36. The valve stem I projects through an axial opening I42 in the valve body I34 and is provided adjacent the head M0 with a flattened portion I44. A compression coiled spring I45 surrounds the valve stem I 38 between the valve body I 3d and the housing I20 and secured to the valve stem I 38 adjacent the end thereof remote from the head I40 is a collar I 48 which forms a stop against which bears the end of the spring Hi6 remote from the valve body I34. The valve body is provided with a radial port IEO which communicates with the chamber I36 and closing the end of the valve body I34 remote from the solenoid 28 is a cover plate I52 having an axial port I54 extending therethrough and communicating with the valve chamber I36. A source of vacuum or reduced pressure (not shown) is coupled through a duct I 56 and tube I58 to the ports I54 of the valve I34 so that when the valves ld l are open the pressure within the cylinder 12 on each side of the piston 30 will be equal and the piston 8! will remain stationary within the cylinder I2. Obviously when a valve Mil moves off its seat at the junction of the bores I35 and biz in the valve body I34 the fiat portion id ioi the valve stem I38 will cooperate with the wall of the bore I42 in establishing communication between the bore I36 and the surrounding atmosphere, thus admitting air to the cylinder 72 and causing the piston 80 to move therein.

Conductors I60 lead from the cell 55 3 to a suitable amplifier and relay I62 which amplifies the current generated by the cell 5 5 and closes a power circuit through the coil I36 of the solenoid S0 to cause the solenoid plunger I32 to advance and engage the end of the adjacent valve stem I38. This will cause the valve Hill carried by the stem I30 to move off of its seat and admit air to the cylinder I2 behind the left side of the piston 80 as viewed in Figure 1. Conductors 56 lead from the cell 55 to an amplifier and relay I65 similar to the relay and amplifier E52 so that when the cell ts becomes excited the valve I34 of the solenoid 92 will be opened to admit air to the cylinder I2 on the right side of the piston 86 when viewed as in Figure l. The relays of the amplifiers and relays I52 and 565 are connected through suitable conductors I68 and I'll! to a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown) and through suitable conductors I12 and I'I l to one terminal of each solenoid 9E) and 92 respectively. The other terminals of the solenoids 9i! and 92 are connected respectively by conductors I16 and I18 to the power source.

The screening area 38 of the disk 3% is of such proportions that in the normal operation of the device, opposite edges I and I82 thereof will just lie in the paths of light passing between the windows 28 and 34 so that the slightest deviation of the angular relation between the edges I 80 and I82 of the screen 38 and the beams of light passing through the windows 28 and 34 will expose one or the other cell 66 or 58 to the light rays and cause excitement thereof. Such excitement of the cell will actuate the solenoid on its respective side of the device and cause it to open its respective valve I36 and admit air to the cylinder I2. This will cause the piston 8 3 and pieton rod Hi to move within the cylinder l2 and with the rod l8 coupled to the steering mecha nism of the moving object, the course of the ob ject will be altered. With the movement of the rod I3, the rack bar I I6 will rotate the pinion I02 to cause the binnacle I0 to revolve about its vertical axis and again bring the light beams passing between the windows 28 and 3t into the screened area 38. By thus interrupting the passage of light between the windows 28 and 35, both cells 56 and 58 are de-energized so that the valves Mil of the respective solenoids and 92 are restored to the closed position under the influence of their respective springs Hi5. Hence the air previously admitted to the cylinder '52 is exhausted and the movement of the piston 88 is arrested. Thus the steering mechanism of the moving object is held against movement until a cell 56 or 58 is again excited by exposure to light emanating from its respective lamp 48 or 50.

In the preferred form of the invention the stem or standard I2 is provided with slip rings I80 and brushes I82 forming parts of the conductors I60 and HM and each housing I20 is provided with a port I84 to admit air to the bore I22 therein.

In setting the device to maintain a moving object on a predetermined course relative to the earths magnetic field the binnacle I is rotated about the stub shaft I04 against the eifort of the friction disks 64 and H0 until the light beams passing between the windows 28 and 30 are interrupted by the screened area 38 of the disk 36, it being understood of course that the disk 36 is held against substantial rotation by the magnets 22. The deviation from the north can be determined by the cooperation of the degree markings 68 on the disk 64 with a pointer I36 carried by the cross member 96 in which the stub shaft I04 is mounted and with the device thus set, the slightest deviation of the object from the desired course will be immediately corrected by the automatic pilot acting upon the steering mechanism of the craft.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic pilot means movable in a rectilinear path and adapted to be connected with the rudder of a ship for governing the position of said rudder, magnetically controlled means connected to the said rudder governing means for moving the rudder governing means in its rectilinear path to maintain the ship on a predetermined course, means between and connected to the rudder governing means and to the magnetically controlled means for manually selecting the position of the magnetically controlled means relative to the rudder governing means, the means between and connected to the rudder governing means and to the magnetically controlled means comprising, friction disks connected respectively to the rudder governing means and the magnetically controlled means.

2. In an automatic pilot means movable in a rectilinear path and adapted to be connected to the rudder of a ship for governing the position of said rudder, magnetically controlled means mounted above said rudder governing means for rotation about an axis which lies perpendicular to the rectilinear path, means connected to the magnetically controlled means and to the rudder governing means for moving said magnetically controlled means as said rudder governing means moves, means connected to the magnetically controlled means and to the rudder governing means for moving said rudder governing means when the ship deviates from a predetermined course, the means for moving the magnetically controlled means as the rudder governing means moves comprising a rack bar carried by the means movable in a rectilinear path, a pinion meshing with said rack bar and. being rotatable about the perpendicular axis, and a friction clutch connected to the pinion and to the magnetically controlled means for establishing manually selected driving connection therebetween.

3. In an automatic pilot, a rudder control rod mounted to move in a substantially horizontal rectilinear path, a housing mounted above said rod for rotation about a substantally vertical axis which intersects the rectilinear path, a rack bar connected to the rod for movement therewith in a rectilinear path, a pinion carried by the housing and meshing with the rack bar for rotating the housing as the rod moves in its rectilinear path, magnetically controlled means carried by the housing and connected to the rod for moving said rod in response to the altering of the position of the magnetically controlled means about the vertical axis, said pinion connected to the housing through the medium of a friction clutch, whereby the position of the housing can be manually altered relative to the pinion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,119,324 Sprater Dec. 1, 1914 1,818,103 Sperry Aug. 11, 1931 1,873,579 Haas Aug. 23, 1932 2,102,513 Chance Dec. 14, 1937 2,112,504 Mirfield Mar. 29, 1938 2,114,479 Shannon Apr. 19-, 1938 2,517,612 Varian Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 530,437 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1940 793,301 France Nov. 16, 1935 

